Obama acknowledges Newtown massacre in inaugural address

President Barack Obama delivers his Inaugural address at the ceremonial swearing-in at the U.S. Capitol during the 57th Presidential Inauguration in Washington, Monday, Jan. 21, 2013. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Not once did President Obama use the word “gun” in his second inaugural address, which is now in the history books.

The 44th president covered 2,095 words in just under 20 minutes.

Obama did reference the Dec. 14 killing of 20 children age 7 and under and six educators at Sandy Hook Elementary School, the worst elementary school shooting in U.S. history, during his address in the broader context of progress and the role of government in society.

“Our journey is not complete until all our children, from the streets of Detroit to the hills of Appalachia to the quiet lanes of Newtown, know that they are cared for, and cherished, and always safe from harm,” Obama said.

The president avoided a direct reference to the Second Amendment and weaved his remarks about violence perpetrated against children into a commentary about reforms to immigration policy and voting.

“That is our generation’s task – to make these words, these rights, these values – of Life, and Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness – real for every American. Being true to our founding documents does not require us to agree on every contour of life; it does not mean we will all define liberty in exactly the same way, or follow the same precise path to happiness. Progress does not compel us to settle centuries-long debates about the role of government for all time – but it does require us to act in our time.”

Expect the issue of gun control reform to be less abstract in the president’s upcoming State of the Union address.